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Yesterday, three pedestrians were killed in Brooklyn, Queens and Manhattan:
- At around 12 a.m, Mario Sagastume was hit by a Nissan Maxima when crossed Ashford Street near Liberty Avenue in East New York. The Maxima did not stop, though people were chasing the car. Residents mentioned that there are frequent accidents and that there should be a light at the intersection.The deaths are also a tragic and unfortunate reinforcement of the importance of Transportation Alternatives' Pedestrian Safety Rally. At 3 p.m., Transportation Alternatives will be holding a rally outside City Hall to demand that Mayor Bloomberg improve the streets for pedestrians.- At 4 a.m., a 25-year-old man was killed when a van hit him at Essex and Delancey Streets in Manhattan. The van stopped and the driver was not charged (he was given summons for "operating a vehicle with expired insurance"). Many people can attest to the speed with which vehicles are traveling on Delancey or just off it. In January, blogger John Carney was hit at Delancey and Allen.
- At either 1 a.m. or 1 p.m. (the Times says a.m., the Post and Daily News say p.m.), Alice Chow was crossing Lefferts Boulevard near Austin Street when a bus making a left turn hit her.
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Blah blah blah... blah blah blah... ban cars... blah blah blah... cars are evil... blah blah blah....
The Gothamist has become a traffic blogger. Booo!
Don't fall for "blame-the-victime" illogic that Senator Kruger does when he proposes stupid legislation like iPod and cell phone bans. Peds are killed countless times while the light is theirs, the right of way is theirs, and they are in the crosswalk. There is absolutely no excuse for turning vehicles killing peds when they have the right of way.
NONE. ZERO.
This is supposed to be a safe zone, where you can listen to your iPod, talk on the cell, push your stroller, use your wheelchair, hold hands with you babysitter, sachey, strut, do the worm, whatever (as long as you're still crossing). There are very measurable things that the city can do to eliminate these issues. 10% of all intersections in the city account for over 50% of all traffic injuries and fatals. Those 10% of the intersections (comes to about 5,000 of them) can be made safer. And the NYPD enforce the damn laws on the books.
Anytime a driver enters an intersection and doesn't yield to a ped who has the light, they can be ticketed for "Failure to Yield" and "Failure to exercise due care" at a minimum. Those are rarely ever enforced.
The city has blame because the city can make very simple improvements that they are not making. They've got countless studies that demonstrate as much. They've got very palpable examples, such as Queens Blvd, former "Blvd of Death" where, despite 10 years of advocacy by victims' families, the DOT refused to do anything. Then, when the press got too intense for them, they finally rolled out changes. Fatals and injuuries went down by 50% over the next couple years and now they tout it as a huge success. It didn't cost them much money, it could be replicated everywhere.
They have to step up and do it.
Period.
MR
What are you ranting about? Did some guy diss you last night?
Looks like we got a smartass in our midst.
Time for me to go key some kars and slash some tires.
It's easy, I was scared the first time too but don't worry, the tire does not explode. I even did it with a simple Swiss army knife, of course, I use my Microtech now.
"The bus driver, who was not identified, stayed at the scene and was not likely to be charged in connection with the death, a police spokesman said."
"The van driver, who remained at the scene, was issued a summons for operating a vehicle with expired insurance, but was not likely to face other charges, the police said."
What. The. Fuck? Are they EVER charged? I really have less and less respect for the NYPD when I read this shit.
Charged for what? Running over some idiot who decided to cross when it clearly says "Do Not Walk"?????
peds on meds - it seems that you are the one requiring medication. It's pretty obvious you haven't read anything regarding the issue.
I knew Alice Chow, who was hit by the bus. She was walking with her mom across the crosswalk and had the green light. Her mother was hit too, but only had superficial injuries. Alice was a very accomplished person and her death really saddens us.
Along with Alice, I know three other people who have been hit by buses/cars while crossing at a crosswalk. Road safety still needs to be a priority in cities. Pedestrians should never become victims while crossing at crosswalks.